The LPGA’s commissioner search is down to two finalists who come from the golf industry, Alex Baldwin and Craig Kessler, according to a report by Golfweek.
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The search has been ongoing since late 2024 when Mollie Marcoux Samaan announced she would resign her position, effective in early January. Liz Moore was tabbed as the LPGA’s interim commissioner.
Reached by Golf Digest via email, the LPGA responded, “The Search Committee, in collaboration with Elevate Talent, is actively working to identify the LPGA’s next Commissioner. This is a confidential process, and we respect the privacy of all individuals involved. We remain committed to a thorough and thoughtful process, and we look forward to announcing that individual when the process is completed.”
Korn Ferry Tour president Alex Baldwin.
Andrew Wevers
Baldwin is the president of the Korn Ferry Tour, a role she’s held since 2019. She is the first female in history to lead one of the PGA Tour’s global tours.
Baldwin was a finalist for the LPGA commissioner role in 2021, but according to the report, she withdrew her name to focus on her role with the Korn Ferry Tour. Baldwin joined the PGA Tour in 2017 as the vice president of corporate partnerships. She is a former agent and her career started as an intern with IMG. While with CAA Sports, she represented the LPGA’s Karrie Webb and Suzann Petersen, and Brad Faxon on the PGA Tour, among others. She speaks several languages, including Italian and Spanish.
Craig Kessler with Zach Johnson during the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy.
Darren Carroll/PGA of America
Kessler is the chief operating officer of the PGA of America, a role he’s held since 2023. He is a former executive for TopGolf, where his role was COO and head of emerging concepts.
Kessler was also the CEO of Buff City Soap, an experiential retail company based in Texas. He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
